GARY, Ind. — The Gary SouthShore RailCats continued their offseason push towards a sixth consecutive Northern League Championship Series today, adding some depth to an already talented infield by agreeing to terms on a 2010 contract with five-year veteran Louis Ott.

Ott, 25, has reached as high as Double-A in his career and brings a knack for getting on base and the ability to play a number of positions to the 2010 ‘Cats.  A switch-hitter, Ott boasts a .360 lifetime on-base percentage and has played at least 25 career games at second base, third base and shortstop, and has even played 11 games in the outfield and catcher 10 times.

Ott is coming off his best professional season in 2009, batting .280 in 64 games for the Florida Marlins High-A affiliate in the Florida State League.  Ott collected 61 hits and walked 39 times in 264 plate appearances for the Jupiter Hammerheads, good for a career-best .388 on-base percentage.

Drafted in the 13th Round of the 2005 Major League Entry Draft by the Detroit Tigers, Ott made his professional debut later that season by hitting .231 in 32 games for the Tigers Gulf Coast League affiliate.  Ott slowly climbed the organizational ladder for the Tigers and produced sound numbers at each stop, posting an on-base percentage above .363 in 2006 and 2007, then reaching Erie (AA) for seven games in 2008.

Ott attended Sacramento City College for two seasons before beginning his professional career.  A native of Peteluma, California, Ott now makes his home in the same town as another switch-hitting RailCats infielder, Jay Pecci.

With his signing, Ott becomes the 15th player and fifth infielder under contract with the RailCats for the 2010 season, joining fellow infielders Pecci, Jeff Beachum, Chris Carrara and Mike Rohde; outfielders Caleb Curry, Adam Klein and Mike Massaro; catcher Matt Lenski; and pitchers Aaron Cook, Willie Glen, Zach McClellan, Andy Paulun, J.J. Potrikus and Andy Shipman.  The RailCats expect to have at least 28 players in camp when the team begins Spring Training, Thursday, May 6 at U. S. Steel Yard.

The ‘Cats will begin the 2010 regular season back at The Steel Yard on Thursday, May 20 at 7 p.m. against the Kansas City T-Bones.  Season tickets, mini-plans, flex tickets and group outings are on sale now by calling the RailCats at 219.882.2255 or visiting www.railcatsbaseball.com.